Belgium produced a late surge to complete a comeback win over Iceland, flipping a game they trailed for more than three quarters. The turnaround hinged on defensive stops, smarter fouling and timely half‑court execution, with Belgium finally converting quality looks after a cold stretch. For Iceland, the defeat stings given long passages of control and the energy of a vocal traveling support.
The game offered a lesson in EuroBasket margins: manage foul trouble, value possessions in the final three minutes, and rebound as if every miss is decisive. Belgium’s guards improved pace control down the stretch, while the frontcourt earned extra trips to the line by attacking closeouts. Iceland’s offense, so sharp earlier, found fewer clean initiations once Belgium flattened the first action and forced resets against the shot clock.
The result keeps Belgium’s path to the Round of 16 viable, while Iceland must regroup quickly in a crowded group slate. With tiebreakers and point differential often decisive, closing execution takes on outsized importance in the days ahead.
The group phase runs from August 27 to September 4 across Riga (Group A), Tampere (Group B), Limassol (Group C) and Katowice (Group D). The Round of 16 is single-elimination on September 6–7, followed by quarterfinals on September 9–10, semifinals on September 12, and the final on September 14 in Riga. Twenty-four teams play five group games each, with the top four in every group advancing. These dates and the multi-host setup are defined by FIBA for EuroBasket 2025 and shape the tactical choices teams make during the first week.
